Cleaning Product Supply: Cleaner Or Client?

When hiring a cleaner who provides the cleaning materials?

Is it more cost effective to provide the cleaning materials yourself?

Are there pros and cons for who does the supplying? Let’s see…

If you use a sole trader, a cleaning agency or (gasp!) a cash-in-hand-cleaner (please, please don’t do this) the chances are you will supply all the cleaning materials, products and equipment needed to do the job.

If you are thinking of using a cleaning business or a cleaning franchise, they may be the offer of a lower tariff for the cost per hour of a cleaner if you supply your own cleaning products. For example, at Mrs Mopp we offer a lower and higher charge rate, depending on who supplies the cleaning products.

But what is better? To supply the cleaning products or have them supplied?

Well, as a starting point, did you know that the average family will spend £540.00 per year on cleaning products – yup £540.00 big ones – that’s a lot of moolah already spent and still no one is cleaning but you

Let’s look deeper…

Client Supply Scenario

In scenario one, let’s say the client will supply the cleaning products and will pay a rate of £12.20 per hour for cleaning, and they have 3 hours cleaning a week.

3 x 12.20 = £36.60 per clean

They have 4 cleans on average per month – 36.60 x 4 = £146.40 per month

We all know there are 12 months in a year – 12 x 146.60 = £1,756.80

Add to that the average UK amount of £540 on cleaning products = £2,296.80 per year

Cleaner Supply Scenario

In the second scenario, the cleaning provider supplies all the cleaning products and equipment and they charge £13.50 per hour for the service

Based on the same family, with the same requirements as above, of 3 hours cleaning weekly:

3 x 13.50 = £40.50 per clean

4 cleans in an average month = £162.00 per month

12 x 162 =£1,944.00

There is a financial difference of £352.80 pounds per year in savings to the client that pays the higher tariff and has their products supply!! People will always think it is cheaper to supply, but as cleaning providers can buy in bulk, that may not be the actual case. Not only do you not have to worry about if there is enough bleach or polish at home, but you will actually save money and pay for someone to clean your home every week!

When the cleaner provider supplies the product, not only do you not have to worry about if there is enough bleach or polish at home, but you will actually save money AND pay for someone to clean your home every week!

Pros and Cons To Client Supply Vs Cleaning Service

Pros

Client can pick scents, brands, and product type

Client should be offered a cheaper labour rate from cleaning provider

Client has control over products used

Cons

More expensive in long term – a cleaner will often buy quality cleaning products in bulk and therefore buy at a more competitive price than the average Jo could at a supermarket

You may not be covered by the cleaning services insurance if staining, damage, discolouring, or scratching etc., occur because of a product/piece of equipment you have supplied has not been tested or approved by the cleaning business

The cleaning business will not hold the COSHH data on your cleaning products

The cleaning business would not have tested your products for streaking, clouding or any other sub-standard finish

People often shop around and try and find the ‘cheapest cleaner” – this is crazy talk to us here at Mrs Mopp because we’re guessing a person’s house is their most expensive outlay and asset, and everything, from the decor and furniture within their home, would have been painstakingly picked and matched, and then, they look for any old person to clean maintain their most prized possession because they are cheap… in their expensive home? Say what?

Questions, Queries and Thoughts

When looking for a cleaning provider, and comparing charge rates, ask yourself what service do they provide for the extra costs? What is the quality of their cleaning products? What is the training and quality control of their cleaners? How long have they traded? What ‘extras’ do clients get?

Ask yourself if you would rather spend a bit extra on an hourly rate, saving money in the long term, (and most importantly, knowing that all products being used in your home are tested, safe, and covered by the insurance of the cleaning provider?) OR would you rather look for the cheapest cleaning provider, supply all the products yourself and hope for the best in terms of service and standard?

As the old adage goes, “You get what you pay for” and I’ve never found a case yet where that has not been true.

Do you have anything you’d like to add to this post? Do you think it is better to supply the products? Why? Please add to the comments below, we’d love to hear from you